THE wonderful thing about training for the Macmillan Dorset Bike Ride is that I can indulge in other hobbies at the same time.

Collecting wildlife, for instance.

Having spent several minutes trying to extricate the fly that inadvertently took up residence behind my left eyeball and scraping small flying object from my teeth, I understand why so many cyclists wear glasses.

In three weeks’ time, I will have completed the 40-mile route. Heaven knows what physical state I will be in, but I hope my aching limbs and throbbing rear end will be eased by the fact that I’ve contributed to the charity.

Much has been written and said in the pages of the Echo and our website about the cyclists who ride along the seven-mile stretch of prom.

After discovering I am allergic to uphill slopes, I’ve been using the flat 14-mile round trip as an integral part of my training regime.

I’m fairly easy to spot as I am one of the few observing the speed limit – I was doing 9.9 miles per hour officer – and I am the only one singing Bruce Springsteen songs at an embarrassingly high volume.

I reckon it’s very difficult riding a bike like mine that’s built for speed under ten miles per hour without balancing a sack of cement across the crossbar.

But it’s all about care, not speed. Even a novice like me knows that the amount of care you have to take is directly proportionate to the number of people sharing the prom with you.

So one hot Bank Holiday Monday evening, I’m weaving carefully amidst the pedestrians, dogs, kids and other cyclists with not a hope of exceeding the speed limit.

But on a cloudy Tuesday evening, there’s barely a soul about and I’m head-butting flies every few minutes.

Safe? Of course I am, just like so many of the people who ride their bikes along the stretch. Trouble is, there’s always the odd idiot who thinks he’s Lance Armstrong and I guess there’s not a great deal you're going to do to persuade them that the whole of Dorset is not their cycling playground.

I still can’t work out what’s best for all concerned.

The speed limit’s pointless if it can't be adequately enforced.

But it’s very clear that crowds of people and bikes just don’t mix and I’m guessing that it may take one serious accident for the councils locally to come down a lot harder.

  • If you want your say on the subject, visit my blog at bournemouthecho.co.uk/ nealsonwheels.